Turnover… that is a loaded word after the Ravens’ had four of them in a backbreaking 22-20 loss to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. Yet, turnover will become a much more encouraging word at the end of the season, as the Baltimore Ravens remake their roster to turn this 2-7 bunch into the playoff contender fans expect and deserve.

Discuss in the BSL forums here

Part of the rebuilding effort will be to identify the Ravens’ core, the players who are so integral to the Ravens’ success that they are nearly immune to the rebuilding efforts. Before getting into the draft and potential future free agent acquisitions, the Ravens first have to identify the players they can build around.

Further, the Ravens’ core should only count those players who actually perform at a high level. That means guys with large contracts who are underperforming don’t make this list.

The roster may be in flux, but don’t expect these guys to go anywhere for at least the next few years.

The Old Guard

Elvis Dumervil, OLB

After a game altering (and wrongly called) facemasking penalty marred his great performance, Elvis Dumervil’s name has been mud among Ravens fans. That particular piece of criticism is fair, but otherwise, Dumervil’s play has been above reproach this season.

Despite being the only threatening pass rusher on the roster, Dumervil has generated consistent pressure this year, and has held up better than expect in the ground game as well. His sack numbers are down (a result of increased attention from opposing offenses and the lack of interior pass rush), yet Dumervil has been every bit as impactful.

Dumervil’s game should age nicely: He is already showcasing more power moves and bull rushes as his speed starts to decline, and those moves have been plenty effective. The Ravens should look to complement Doom with a speed rusher, giving him more one-on-one matchups against opposing offensive linemen, and in turn, more pressures and sacks.

With two more years on his contract after this season, both with cap hits under $8.5 million, Dumervil should play out his contract in Baltimore at minimum. If Dumervil does leave before his contract expires (either via trade, injury or release), the Ravens will have no pass rush left.

Marshal Yanda, OG

Signed through 2019 on a very cap-friendly deal (the Ravens could cut Yanda as early as 2017 and save money, not that they should), Marshal Yanda should finish his career as a Raven. And that career has been completely worth of the Hall of Fame, as Yanda has been the best guard in the league for many years. One could even make the argument that Yanda is one of the best tackles in the league, based on his short stints at the right tackle position.

Yanda flat out destroys people in the ground game, despite possession just average size for the position. His technique, tenacity and strength are all impeccable, and as long as Yanda is healthy, the Ravens have one guard spot locked down until 2019.

Joe Flacco, QB

Countless think pieces have been devoted to Joe Flacco, a quarterback whose ‘eliteness’ is consistently debated. Give him weapons, even a league average group like 2014’s unit of receivers, and Flacco is an above-average quarterback, probably even a top-10 quarterback. Surround him with a junior varsity group of receivers though, like in 2013 and this year, and Flacco will make mistakes and struggle to keep the offense consistently moving.

There are two quarterbacks in the league right now who transcend the quality of their targets: Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. That’s it. Flacco is in that very large group of quarterbacks right behind those two in terms of quality, and a lot of teams would kill for a quarterback like that. So be glad the Ravens have Flacco, and hope that Ozzie Newsome finally figures out how to surround him with quality weapons.

The New School

Brandon Williams, DT

Is there any question who the best Ravens draft pick of the past five years is? Brandon Williams has destroyed worlds this year, blowing opposing centers into the backfield and being an immoveable object in the ground game. There is no better nose tackle in the league, and there is no better run defending defensive lineman in the game.

Williams is a run defense in and of himself. That’s the best compliment I can give a nose tackle. Signed through 2016, Williams will be in line for a massive extension. Ravens fans can only hope his pedestrian pass rushing contributions keep Williams’ price tag down. Regardless, the Ravens should make re-signing Williams a top priority in the 2017 offseason.

C.J. Mosley, LB

Despite C.J. Mosley’s overall promise (and production last year) I had some hesitation in putting the second year LB on this list, as his struggles in coverage have been a big cog in the Ravens’ struggles on third downs. Yet, Mosley is so dynamic against the run, that his contributions can’t go unmentioned. His development as a pass rusher is also encouraging: Mosley is probably the Ravens’ best healthy edge rusher opposite Dumervil, and blitzing him keeps Mosley out of coverage. Win win. 

Important to remember is that Mosley is just 23 years old. He is young and still developing. There is still hope for the speedy Mosley to figure out pass coverage, but in the mean time, his contributions as a blitzer and run defender are more than enough to make Mosley a key Raven.

Justin Tucker, K

Justin Tucker is currently experiencing the worst year of his four-year career. He has hit 19 out of 23 field goals, an 82.3 percent clip. That 82.3 percent marks the worst percentage of his career is incredible and a testament to just how good Tucker is. Tucker has made an incredible number of clutch kicks in his career, and having him around has bailed out the offense repeatedly. Few specialists deserve big contracts. Tucker does.

Jimmy Smith, CB

Jimmy Smith has been one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL this season. He needs to prove he was worth his big contract extension before he can be considered a positive part of the Ravens’ future. However, he was playing at an elite level prior to his injury last year, and the Ravens have committed to him long-term. Has his struggles so far this year been a matter of him effectively playing his way back into playing shape post-injury? It’s important to see progression from him during the remainder of this year. Regardless, Smith will be a Raven for the foreseeable future due to his large contract.

Crockett Gillmore, TE

It’s only one productive season, but I’m all in on Crockett Gillmore. He has few weaknesses, and while he will never be a dynamic threat, Gillmore’s ability to bang heads after the catch makes up for his lack of speed. His pure power is why over half of Gillmore’s 284 yards came after the catch. He is the kind of safety valve Joe Flacco likes, and that should keep him a big part of the offense for years to come.

Missed the cut

Kelechi Osemele, G

Kelechi Osemele is a very good guard and the Ravens’ best player heading into free agency in 2016. That said, Osemele doesn’t deserve the same kind of deal as Yanda, yet he may end up making that on the open market. If he does, Osemele will be wearing a different uniform next season.

Kyle Juszczyk, FB

Kyle Juszczyk is a nice fullback, a decent lead blocker and a very good receiver for the position. That he is a fan favorite, though, has overrated him in the minds of some Ravens fans. Juszczyk isn’t so much a weapon as a safety valve. Useful, but not a guy to build an offense around.

Lardarius Webb, CB

Lardarius Webb is in the midst of his best season since his brief 2012 season, in which Webb missed most of the season since injury. Webb is by far the most consistent of the Ravens’ corners: He’s rarely out of position, and he tackles as well as any cornerback has a right to. Unfortunately for the Ravens, Webb just isn’t the athlete he used to be. Accordingly, he regularly allows separation in one-on-one coverage. At least the Ravens know what to expect from Webb, but seeing as the Ravens could save some money by cutting Webb as a post-June 1 designation, he may not be much longer for the roster.

Terrell Suggs, OLB

This will be unpopular, but I just don’t see Terrell Suggs ever being an impact player again. He has played in 181 games throughout his career (not counting playoffs), and he has torn his Achilles twice. The odds of Suggs ever getting his explosion back are slim. His leadership, though, will remain invaluable.

Jury is still out

Breshad Perriman, WR

We haven’t even seen Breshad Perriman play yet, but because he was a first-round pick, Perriman will be around for at least two more, and probably three more years. I was not high on Perriman coming out of the draft, and his injury has only soured me on him more. Will he ever come back? At this point, I have my doubts. Regardless, Perriman is the kind of big, deep threat that Joe Flacco can do good things with.

Maxx Williams, TE

Maxx Williams has yet to make the kind of splashy plays he was known for at Minnesota, but he has been reasonably productive through the air while playing very well in the blocking game. Williams will only get better, and he’s already pretty darn good.

Nick Boyle, TE

Though he lacks Williams’ upside and big play ability, Nick Boyle is positively ferocious after the catch, making him a lot of fun to watch. Boyle’s lack of speed will keep him from becoming a star, but he may prove to be a quality starter, one of three the Ravens have on the roster at the tight end position.

Carl Davis, DT/DE

Probably the most impressive rookie for the Ravens this year has been Carl Davis, who has held up well to blocking and has done a good job batting balls. A little development as a pass rusher could make Davis a stud, despite his falling snap counts in recent weeks.

Terrence Brooks, S and Timmy Jernigan, DT

I’m grouping Terrence Brooks and Timmy Jernigan together for one reason: health. They both have the talent to be quality long-term starters, but both have struggled mightily to stay healthy. Brooks would bring a dose of athleticism to the Ravens’ safety position that is currently lacking, while Jernigan is the best pass rusher of the Ravens’ defensive linemen.

Shawn Brubaker
Shawn Brubaker

Shawn began his writing career with Bleacher Report as a Ravens featured columnist and Breaking News Team writer. He moved on to write for Yahoo! and work on the Ravens Central Radio podcast. Most recently, he was an Editor at the Baltimore Wire. Shawn is a 2013 graduate of the Catholic University of America.

X